I have a small 5 gallon tank with one guppy and two snails(each different breed) in my tank. I got up this morning and turned on the light and there was these things on the inside glass of the tank. I've never seen anything like them before. I have had aquariums all my life and never seen these things. I need help Identifying them.

They are smaller then 1/32 of inch. They are tan in color and look like miniature grass seed but they move. They are really really tiny. I thought at first they might be algae but they move on their own. They have moved from the back inside glass to the front inside glass. My guppy is healthy and doesn't seem to be bothered by them. My snails crawl through those things and the things move out of the way. Any idea what they might be?

-bpgoose (alias judy)

leogtr

05-18-2011 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bpgoose
(Post 677294)

I have a small 5 gallon tank with one guppy and two snails(each different breed) in my tank. I got up this morning and turned on the light and there was these things on the inside glass of the tank. I've never seen anything like them before. I have had aquariums all my life and never seen these things. I need help Identifying them.

They are smaller then 1/32 of inch. They are tan in color and look like miniature grass seed but they move. They are really really tiny. I thought at first they might be algae but they move on their own. They have moved from the back inside glass to the front inside glass. My guppy is healthy and doesn't seem to be bothered by them. My snails crawl through those things and the things move out of the way. Any idea what they might be?

these are hydra and are dangerous to fry. If you have fry and would like to maintain their well-being I would start crushing them with my finger. They reproduce fast and after that they are pretty hard to get rid of. If you dont have fry their fine as long as your fish are one inch or more. They are unique little creatures I still have a few but not as much because I stopped overfeeding:)

EDIT: your snails might eat them but if not be very careful not to overfeed because they will be EVERYWHERE. Even on the snails' shells lol

bpgoose

05-18-2011 11:57 AM

They don't look like that. They cling to the glass and they look like lice. They wiggle when they move.

redchigh

05-18-2011 12:04 PM

It's planaria of some sort. They're harmless, and actually a sign of a healthy ecosystem. (instead of the sterile petri dish that most aquariums are).

They COULD be a sign of overfeeding, (since they have to eat) so go get your water checked... If ammonia and nitrite are 0, and nitrate's less then 20, you're good.

Quote-
Planaria Worms (small hair-like white worms)
Free-living, non parasitic flatworms are common in lakes, streams, ponds, and other freshwater habitats. Planaria, usually dark brown, greenish, or tan, are found in shallow water underneath submerged rocks or vegetation. They can glide over the surface of objects and are sometimes upside-down on the underside of water surface film. The body of Planaria is non-segmented and bilaterally symmetrical. The head is triangular shaped and contains two eyespots that detect light. Worms can shorten and change shape using muscle cells whose contractions are controlled by a primitive nervous system. Asexual reproduction allows a new head and tail ends to form by a process of tissue regeneration. Sexual reproduction is also possible after worms exchange sperm; worms are hermaphroditic. After internal fertilization, numerous zygotes are deposited into a small, dark capsule, called a cocoon, which is about 1 mm in diameter. The cocoon is attached to submerged rocks or plants and, after further development, small worms emerge from an opening in the cocoon. There is no larval form.